![]() ![]() ![]() Cohen worked a more blatant reference-albeit to a film he produced, not directed-into The Boy Next Door, in which a bully taunts Jennifer Lopez’s son, nicknamed “The Wiz” for a childhood pants-wetting incident, by noting “Your movie was on Turner Classics last night. Rob Cohen snuck a reference to Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story into his most famous film to date, The Fast and the Furious the former film can be seen playing on the TV at Dom Toretto’s (Vin Diesel) house during one scene. DOM TORETTO WATCHES DRAGON: THE BRUCE LEE STORY IN THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS. The number appears in other Lucas films, too: in A New Hope, Luke-dressed as a Stormtrooper-says he’s transferring Chewbacca from cell block 1138, and in American Graffiti the license plate of John’s (Paul Le Mat) car is THX 138. Specifically, “1138” can be seen on the back of a battle droid that Jar Jar Binks knocks over. STAR WARS: EPISODE I - THE PHANTOM MENACE.Įvery millisecond of every Star Wars film has been picked over ad nauseam by enthusiastic fans, so George Lucas’ little nod to his first film, THX 1138-the feature version of a short he made while a student at USC-didn’t remain unnoticed for long. Gray has said that the scene isn’t intended to be a “Bye Felicia” origin story rather, it’s just “ a fun moment, a wink and a nod to the original Friday.” ![]() And, of course, Gray works in a “Bye Felicia,” referencing Friday’s most famous line when Ice Cube dismisses a groupie with an unhappy boyfriend. For an extra layer of meta: in the film, Ice Cube is played by O’Shea Jackson Jr.-who is real-life Ice Cube’s son. Earlier, Ice Cube can be seen writing Friday’s script (he co-wrote and co-starred Gray directed). A brief clip of the earlier film can be seen in Compton’s closing credits, which breezes through biopic subject N.W.A.’s post-movie exploits. ![]() Gary Gray works several references to his 1995 stoner comedy Friday into his latest feature, Straight Outta Compton. FRIDAY GETS MULTIPLE NODS IN STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON.į. So who can begrudge them the chance to give themselves a little pat on the back by working in nods to their earlier movies for passionate fans to spot? From Star Wars to Straight Outta Compton, here are 10 examples of directors doing just that. But within that legacy, there is a history of language that degrades women and therefore, I think, becomes very complicated for black women to support this film - and, often, hip-hop culture in general.It can take years for a film director to see his or her idea move from script to screen. You know, I think Oprah supports the movie because, as a positive, the movie does tell an important story about a group that was an important mouthpiece for black people and for black culture. Gary Gray has one other defense that you report: "C'mon, Oprah liked this movie." Why do you think she liked it? But to say, "Let's focus on one gender's plight and one social-justice issue and ignore the other one" was kind of also disappointing. And that there are other things to focus on besides just that - I'm assuming because the movie addresses police brutality and N.W.A's role in getting black people a voice in Compton in the '80s against the police, and giving them an anthem. Įssentially, that he's telling the story of N.W.A, and that in order to entertain, you can't always be politically correct. I think it struck a nerve, as conversations about misogyny often do. But you did something else that I really appreciate: You reached out to the director, Gary Gray, and said, "What's up with this?" How'd that conversation go? You did something that lots of people do: Something bothered you and you wrote about it on the Internet. You'll ignore the brutality, and then you'll ignore discussions of empowerment - we're throwaways. I think it's demonstrative of how society treats black women in general. I think for a movie that omitted discussing and contextualizing a history of degradation of women, a brutality of women - to ignore that conversation and then to add a misogynistic moment for a punchline just felt really bad and really insensitive and thoughtless. It's a woman being treated brutally, blamed for an argument among men. Davis joined NPR's Steve Inskeep to discuss her essay on The Cut and why Straight Outta Compton raises questions that are tough for black women to grapple with.Įxplain what it is that bothers you. ![]()
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